NL West Contenders Trying to Get Finley

The race to acquire Arizona center fielder Steve Finley could affect the tight National League West race.

The Dodgers, San Diego and San Francisco emerged as the final three clubs Tuesday in pursuit of the four-time Gold Glove Award winner, who said he would have exercised his right -- as a player with at least 10 years in the major leagues and five with one team -- to block potential trades with Philadelphia and Florida.

Finley, 39, said he would approve a trade only to one of the three NL West contenders before Saturday’s non-waiver deadline. Executives in the division said each club continued to aggressively pursue the two-time All-Star, hitting .281 with 23 home runs and 48 runs batted in.

Three National League general managers said Finley is one of few potential “difference-makers” available, and the Dodgers, Padres and Giants are in a sprint to the finish to get him.

“They were intriguing,” Finley said of trade overtures to the Diamondbacks from Philadelphia and Florida. “But as we started getting closer to the deadline and discussing it with my family, and with San Francisco, L.A. and San Diego all in the mix, it seemed appropriate to stay on the West Coast.”

Finley, who owns a house in north San Diego County, was popular with fans while helping the Padres win two division titles and the 1998 NL pennant. Returning to San Diego would appear to be the best scenario for Finley, but the Padres rejected the Diamondbacks’ initial request for relievers Scott Linebrink and Akinori Otsuka.

General Manager Paul DePodesta declined to comment about the club’s efforts to acquire Finley, but another high-ranking Dodger official said DePodesta remained in the race despite Finley’s desire to remain in center, and the Diamondbacks’ high interest in setup man Guillermo Mota.

The club official said center fielder Milton Bradley would not be asked to change positions under any scenario, prompting DePodesta to revisit some trade options he had moved to the back burner while focusing on Finley.

However, the Dodgers apparently have not given up on a deal for Finley.

“All I’ll say is that I’ve got a lot of different balls in the air right now,” DePodesta said. “There are a lot of directions we could go.”

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The Diamondbacks would want Mota and catcher Paul Lo Duca included in a deal for Randy Johnson, but the Dodger official said the club wasn’t interested in trading Mota and Lo Duca.

Moreover, Johnson has a salary of $16 million in 2005. With Shawn Green also at $16 million and Darren Dreifort at $13 million, the Dodgers would have $45 million committed to three players next season.

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Manager Jim Tracy suffered a back injury before Monday’s 9-7 victory over Colorado at Coors Field.

Tracy, who had back surgery before joining the Dodgers, was evaluated by trainer Stan Johnston, who prescribed medication.